In 2019, I stumbled across Adam Mitzner’s  book A Matter of Will. It was one of those legal thrillers I love – the kind that keep you up reading until the book is DONE. I hadn’t realized that he had been publishing since 2011, and I looked forward to reading more of his work. I especially enjoyed the Clint Broden series, and have recommended the books to several people (it’s always a plus when books in a series can be read as standalones and not lose any of their impact). I was happy to receive a copy of Mitzner’s latest, Love Betrayal Murder  from Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

Clint isn’t around for this one, but there are plenty of characters, a twisty plot, and a complex trial that’s really well done. The story revolves around attorneys Matthew Brooks and Vanessa Lyons, who both work at a TOP New York law firm. Although both are associates when they first meet, Matthew makes partner, which is what Vanessa wants more than just about anything…except for Matt, with whom she has a torrid affair. Matt has a big case he has been working on for years, and when Vanessa is assigned to his team, suddenly they are in direct violation of company policy regarding relationships between partners and non-partners. They hope to keep things on the down low until the following year, when they expect Vanessa will become a partner and they can be open about their relationship. She has been assured her making partner is “a lock.” But her husband Bradley is VERY suspicious.  Vanessa is shocked when she is denied partnership, and assumes that the affair is the reason. So, what to do? LAWSUIT!

The three words in the title are all important pieces of the complex plot: love, betrayal, and murder. It’s a fast read with twists and turns and surprises (although I saw the ending coming earlier than I usually do). I love legal thrillers, and this one was just a great antidote to the news of the day. Four stars.